Epping Forest lodges Supreme Court appeal bid over asylum hotel decision

The local authority lodged its application on Friday (26 September), naming the hotel owners, Somani Hotels Limited, and the Secretary of State for the Home Department as respondents.

The council's application to the Supreme Court followed the Court of Appeal's decision to set aside an interim injunction order made by Mr Justice Eyre.

Lord Justice Bean, who heard the appeal with Lady Justice Nicola Davies and Lord Justice Cobb, said Eyre J had made a "number of errors of principle" that undermined his decision.

A separate three-day hearing for the full injunction is scheduled to take place at the High Court between 15 and 17 October.

The council announced plans to appeal to the Supreme Court on 5 September.

Commenting on the move at the time, a spokesperson for Epping Forest District Council said: "We would like to thank the Court for expediting these matters. It is in no one's interest to delay the legal process. The sooner we get to a full resolution the better."

The Home Office declined to comment on the application to the Supreme Court on the basis that legal proceedings were ongoing.

In a previous response to the hand down of the Court of Appeal ruling, Dame Angela Eagle, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, said: "We inherited a chaotic asylum accommodation system costing billions.

"This government will close all hotels by the end of this Parliament and we appealed this judgment so hotels like the Bell can be exited in a controlled and orderly way that avoids the chaos of recent years that saw 400 hotels open at a cost of £9m a day."

Adam Carey